Carowinds 50th anniversary celebration adds fireworks and drones

The Carolina skies are about to be a party, as Carowinds 50th anniversary celebration debuts a nighttime spectacular featuring fireworks and drones as part of “50 years of Carolina fun.”

50 Nights of Fire nighttime spectacular with drones at Carowinds 50th anniversary celebration
Image courtesy of Carowinds

Carowinds announced today that the park will also introduce a street party and a magic show. These live productions are in addition to the recently opened Aeronautica Landing, a new aviation-themed land with high-flying new rides that serves as the anchor of the 50th celebration.

Air Racers in Aeronautica Landing at Carowinds
Air Racers, a new ride in Aeronautica Landing
Photo by Blake Taylor

“50 Nights of Fire”

“50 Nights of Fire” will illuminate the sky with fireworks and drones. Carowinds promises the nighttime spectacular will feel like “a scrapbook of memories featuring some of the greatest moments of Carowinds’ dedication to fun, thrills, and entertainment.”

Carowinds 50th anniversary fireworks
Photo courtesy of Carowinds

On Instagram, Carowinds revealed “50 Nights of Fire” will perform nightly June 17-Aug. 6, 2023. The past few years, Carowinds has only hosted fireworks on holidays, so this production is extra special.

Carowinds 50th anniversary signage
Photo by Blake Taylor

International Star Illusionist

Also debuting on June 17, 2023, is Brad Ross: International Star Illusionist who will entertain guests inside Carowinds Theater with comedy and magic on select days through Aug. 6, 2023.

Brad Ross International Star Illusionist at Carowinds
Photo courtesy of Carowinds

Ryan Allen, director of live entertainment at Carowinds, filled us in on the historical significance of this new offering when we interviewed him at Aeronautica Landing’s grand opening. 

“In 1973 when the park opened, [Carowinds Theater] was the Midway Magic House,” Allen said. “We’re excited to bring some of that magic back.”

Carowinds 50th Anniversary Street Party and Live Music

The Carowinds 50th Golden Anniversary Street Party will invite guests to take part in a vibrant, interactive production, which the Carowinds app calls “one of the happiest things to do on the state line in the past 50 years.” On Instagram, the park shared that the street party will perform on select days June 10 through Aug. 13, 2023.

Carowinds 50th Anniversary Street Party
Photo courtesy of Carowinds

Park-wide, guests can enjoy a variety of live music this summer, including RetroSpect who will debut June 10, 2023, singing party anthems old and new, and Swell Tones who will serenade visitors with five decades of Top 40 hits with an old-timey twist beginning May 27, 2023. That’s also when the 325s — named after Carowinds’ signature coaster, Fury 325 — will return to the park with ‘90s rock.

RetroSpect live music group at Carowinds
RetroSpect, a live music offering debuting this summer
Photo courtesy of Carowinds

More Entertainment All Season Long

Carowinds 50th anniversary live entertainment is the icing on the cake of an already-impressive lineup of seasonal favorites this year.

The fun begins with Grand Carnivale, an international food and music festival, will return on select nights June 24-July 9, 2023, to “bring the world to the state line,” as Allen told us.

Vibrant dancers and stilt walkers in Grand Carnivale parade
Photo courtesy of Carowinds

As Halloween approaches, Carowinds will once again host the family-friendly Great Pumpkin Fest on Saturdays and Sundays from Sept. 16-Oct. 29, 2023.

Great Pumpkin Fest at Carowinds
Photo courtesy of Carowinds

For those seeking a more horror-filled Halloween, Scarowinds will return on select nights Sept. 15-Oct. 29, 2023, with scare zones, mazes, and shows.

Scarecrow at Scarowinds
Photo courtesy of Carowinds

WinterFest will bring festive cheer with holiday lights, specialty food, and a parade on select nights Nov. 20, 2023-Jan. 1, 2024. 

WinterFest Wonderland Parade at Carowinds
Photo courtesy of Carowinds

Last but certainly not least, over at Aeronautica Landing, seasonal entertainment will cap off the area’s inaugural year.

“We’ve already got plans for Halloween and Christmas in this space,” Allen teased, “which is gonna be really, really fun. I can’t wait to share those details soon.”

Plan your visit for Carowinds 50th anniversary celebration

Intimidator roller coaster at Carowinds
Photo by Blake Taylor

Carowinds is now open Thursdays through Sundays. The park will begin daily summer operations May 25, 2023.

Single-day admission to Carowinds starts at $40. Group and military discounts are available. Season passes start at $109, with higher tiers including unlimited admission to Scarowinds and WinterFest. 

Any form of summertime admission includes entry to Carolina Harbor, the water park connected to Carowinds, which opens for the season May 26. To plan your visit, click here.

To prepare for your flight into Aeronautica Landing, check out our tour inside the new area, featuring interviews with the people who created it.

Aeronautica Landing Opening Ceremony at Carowinds Park for 50th Anniversary
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